Feminine hygiene products include internal cleaners & sprays, disposable razors & blades, tampons & sanitary pads and panty liners & shields. Let’s take a look at pantyliners and sanitary pads specifically. Reportedly, the global pantyliner market is set to grow steadily at a compound annual growth rate of more than 5 percent between 2016-2020. Interestingly, sanitary pads are the most commonly used feminine hygiene products and are expected to grow at a notable rate due to increasing demand from developing markets.

Assessing Opportunities in Asia PacificResearch comments that the Asia-Pacific region was estimated to be the largest market for feminine hygiene products in 2015. The region accounted for around 60 percent of the overall sales of sanitary pads by value, in 2015. This growth is owing to increased availability and market visibility of feminine hygiene products, as well as growing awareness about personal hygiene and increased sanitary pad adoption in markets including Japan and China. Moreover, the increasing number of working women in Asia Pacific, the increasing preference for easy-to-use sanitary napkins and rising disposable income have all boosted growth.

However, there are a few dark clouds on the horizon. Aging population in several countries and increasing health concerns due to the kind of raw materials being used in the hygiene products are challenges for industry growth.

We Want to be Where Our Customers Are
At H.B. Fuller, we’re strengthening our network in Asia Pacific to support future growth. Our newest manufacturing facility in Surabaya, Indonesia, is now open for business, demonstrating our continuous commitment to deliver innovative adhesive solutions and value to our customers in emerging economies.

This 30,000 square-meter land facility complements the products and technical service offered today by our manufacturing facilities in China, Japan, Philippines, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand. From this site, we’ll produce hot melt and water-based chemistries for customers in the hygiene, packaging, labeling and woodworking markets. We believe there are many possible future markets we might serve with the technologies produced in Surabaya.

Making a Difference with Our Commitment to Technical Care
At this new facility, we bring together everything necessary - people, products, and processes - to connect customers to innovative adhesive solutions that give them a competitive edge. We see changes in the marketplace faster. We make sure that we’re part of that change, and we connect our ideas to the changes we see around us. It’s a perfect example of “connecting what matters.” With our personal hygiene product solutions, we help our customers respond more quickly and effectively to market trends, industry challenges, and opportunities.